3Eyes / Blog
2026-03-10 · Dan Clark

How to Block YouTube on Your Child's Computer (Windows, Mac, Chromebook)

The Problem with Blocking YouTube Entirely

Before we get into the how, let's talk about whether you should. Blocking YouTube completely is simple, but it creates problems. Your child needs YouTube for school projects. They want to watch the same videos their friends talk about. And a total block often leads to resentment and workarounds.

A better approach for most families: restrict YouTube to approved channels rather than blocking it outright. But if you've decided a full block is right for your situation, here's every method available.

Method 1: Block YouTube in the Hosts File (Windows and Mac)

This is free and works across all browsers on the computer.

On Windows 11

  1. Open Notepad as Administrator (right-click Notepad, select "Run as administrator")
  2. Open the file C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
  3. Add these lines at the bottom:
127.0.0.1 youtube.com
127.0.0.1 www.youtube.com
127.0.0.1 m.youtube.com
127.0.0.1 youtu.be
127.0.0.1 youtube-nocookie.com
127.0.0.1 www.youtube-nocookie.com
  1. Save the file
  2. Open Command Prompt and run ipconfig /flushdns

On Mac

  1. Open Terminal
  2. Type sudo nano /etc/hosts
  3. Enter your password
  4. Add the same lines as above
  5. Press Ctrl+O to save, Ctrl+X to exit
  6. Run sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

Pros: Free, works in every browser, no software to install.

Cons: A tech-savvy kid can edit the hosts file back. It only blocks on that one computer. YouTube apps on phones and tablets are unaffected.

Method 2: Router-Level Blocking

Your router can block YouTube for every device on your home network.

  1. Log into your router (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)
  2. Find the "Parental Controls," "Access Restrictions," or "Website Blocking" section
  3. Add youtube.com, youtu.be, and googlevideo.com to the block list
  4. Save and restart the router

Pros: Blocks YouTube on every device connected to your WiFi. Kids can't just switch browsers to get around it.

Cons: It blocks YouTube for everyone, including you. It doesn't work when your child is on a different network. Router interfaces vary wildly and some don't have blocking features.

Method 3: Windows Family Safety (Windows 11)

  1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family
  2. Add your child's Microsoft account
  3. Go to family.microsoft.com
  4. Select your child, then Content Restrictions > Web Browsing
  5. Add youtube.com to the blocked sites list

Pros: Built into Windows, free, managed from a web dashboard.

Cons: Only works in Microsoft Edge. If your child opens Chrome or Firefox, the block doesn't apply. Microsoft's family features have been unreliable in recent updates.

  1. Open the Family Link app on your phone
  2. Select your child
  3. Go to Controls > Content restrictions > Google Chrome
  4. Under "Manage sites," add youtube.com to "Blocked"

Pros: Tight integration with Chromebook. Hard for kids to bypass since Chrome OS is locked down.

Cons: Only works on the Chromebook. Your child's phone and other devices are unaffected unless you also manage them through Family Link.

Method 5: DNS-Level Blocking (OpenDNS / CleanBrowsing)

  1. Create an account at OpenDNS.com (free home plan)
  2. Change your router's DNS settings to OpenDNS servers (208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220)
  3. Log into your OpenDNS dashboard
  4. Add youtube.com to your block list

Pros: Works for every device on your network. Harder to bypass than hosts file changes.

Cons: Tech-savvy kids can change DNS settings on their device. Only works on your home network.

The Better Alternative: Channel-Level Control

Every method above is all-or-nothing. YouTube is either fully blocked or fully open. But most parents don't want to block YouTube entirely. They want to block the garbage while keeping the good stuff.

This is where channel-level control comes in. Instead of blocking YouTube, you approve specific channels your child can watch. They get access to educational content, their favorite science channels, and creator content you've reviewed. Everything else is off limits.

3Eyes gives parents this kind of control. You add approved YouTube channels from the parent dashboard. Your child can browse and search videos only from those channels through a built-in video page. No recommendations, no rabbit holes, no surprises.

Which Method Should You Use?

Method Cost Difficulty Bypass Risk Cross-Device
Hosts file Free Medium High No
Router Free Medium Medium Yes (home only)
Windows Family Free Easy High No
Family Link Free Easy Low Chromebook only
DNS blocking Free Medium Medium Yes (home only)
Channel control (3Eyes) Paid Easy Low Per device

For most families, the best approach is channel-level control combined with time limits. You get the benefits of YouTube without the risks.